Mourning Dove Hunting - Background Information
Mourning Doves
- Doves are hunted for food in 41 states, including Indian reservations, and in Puerto Rico.
- Although doves were involved in 47 airline strikes between June 29,2012 and January 16, 2015 in NY, they are not considered a threat, nuisance, nor are they overpopulated or exotic. (http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/airplane-strikes.html)
- There are more mourning doves than the combined populations of deer, turkey, coyote, and bear.
- (http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/mourning-dove-bbs-summer-distribution-map-vs-rock-dove-pigeon-bbs-summer-distribution-map.html)
- Mourning doves are found in every county in New York.
- The average lifespan of mourning doves is less than one year. Only 40% of the population lives longer. However, mourning doves are capable of reproducing at 85 days of age, which compensates for this short life span. In addition, nationwide surveys have shown there is no significant difference in mourning dove breeding densities in hunted and non-hunted states.
- Wildlife professionals have studied mourning doves and monitored their populations for years and periodically re-evaluate programs and make necessary adaptive changes.
Level of Support
Engagement
- Petition signatures exceed 2,000 and over 1,000 followers on social media.
- $723 Cash Donations for advertising have been received
- Forty-five letters of support from NY hunting organizations
- http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/list-of-ny-hunting-clubs-that-support-dove-hunting.html
NY Dove Hunting conducted a random sample of 100 hunters.
- Our survey concluded NY hunters are more united about dove hunting than they are on crossbows, one buck rule, and antler restrictions.
- Most respondents indicated they have a greater interest in dove hunting than coyote hunting.
- Sixty three percent of respondents indicated they were willing to purchase a dove stamp.
- http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/survey-findings-comparative-levels-of-agreement-among-the-new-york-hunting-community.html
- http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/survey-question-results.html
Conservation Funding
- Dove Stamp
- Pittman-Robertson Excise Tax
General Economic Activity
- Migratory bird hunters spend $1,877 annually; $ 779 for expenses and $1098 on their hunting dog.
- Source USFWS report: http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/fhw11-nat.pdf
- Supplemental Farm Income and Dove Hunting
1) Supplemental Farm Income is important to the survival of family farms.
- It is common knowledge that family farms are being replaced by industrial farms across the United States, including in New York.
- Family farms are better for the economy, environment, wildlife, and human health.
- Supplemental Farm Income from dove hunting is successful in other states. That level of success may not be realized in NY, however, an ambitious agriculture producer or landowner can indeed derive income from dove hunting. We emphasize the perspective is changed if you consider that dove hunting leases are consistent and compatible with ordinary agricultural practices and customs.
- The DEC may be able to obtain a variety of federal grants to give landowners financial incentives to allow public access for dove hunting or manage dove fields on private lands.
2) Pollination
- Pollinators are an integral part of our environment and our agricultural systems; they are important in 35% of global crop production.
- Some characteristics of mourning dove habitat also support pollinators. Thus if hunters undertake mourning dove habitat projects, there will be a benefit to pollinators. See figure 1.
Hunting Opportunity for a Broader Public
- Does not require buying, transporting, and storing a lot of equipment
- Possible for the less physically able
- Does not require transporting large game or butchering facilities, doves can be processed in a kitchen sink.
Examples of Benefits to the Broader Public
- The habitat needs of the wildlife which hunters are interested supports high biodiversity.
- Our food supply depends on soil, water, and (*) pollinators.
- Hedgerows provide habitat, conserve soil, and reduce energy consumption by keeping houses warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. They also function in blocking the drift of farm chemicals, dust, snow, and reducing noise.
- Agriculture cover crops, wetlands, and habitat plantings reduce the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by sucking it from the air and converting it into living tissue or transporting it into the ground through their roots and sequestering it in the soil.
- Riparian areas and wetlands mediate flooding, recharge and conserve groundwater while providing habitat.
- These projects require funding however. A major source of funds for conservation is revenue from hunting licenses, hunting stamps, and federal Pittman Robertson matching grants.
Successes in other states
In states with longstanding dove hunting seasons it is both very popular and a significant source of both conservation funds and general economic activity.
Dove hunting is extremely popular in the state of Texas. In addition to the mourning dove, Texas allows hunting for the less widely distributed white-winged dove and implements a white-winged dove hunting stamp as a funding strategy for research.
In Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa which have reinstated dove hunting seasons since as early 2003 and Ontario, Canada, which reinstated dove hunting in 2013, hunter participation ranges between 6,900 and 15,000 hunters in each of these states and the providence of Ontario.
Dove hunting participation should be compared to the number of trappers, falconers, and bear dog trainers, all activities which are legal in NY, rather than with the number of deer hunters. NY allows a trapping season for about 10,300 licensed trappers. NY also offers a special license for a very small number of people to train bear hunting dogs; 40 people have one year licenses and 90 people have five year licenses for a total of 130 bear dog training licenses. NY also issues falconry permits, and there are 250 falconers in NY.
http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/is-lack-of-interest-credible.html
Dove hunting is extremely popular in the state of Texas. In addition to the mourning dove, Texas allows hunting for the less widely distributed white-winged dove and implements a white-winged dove hunting stamp as a funding strategy for research.
In Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa which have reinstated dove hunting seasons since as early 2003 and Ontario, Canada, which reinstated dove hunting in 2013, hunter participation ranges between 6,900 and 15,000 hunters in each of these states and the providence of Ontario.
Dove hunting participation should be compared to the number of trappers, falconers, and bear dog trainers, all activities which are legal in NY, rather than with the number of deer hunters. NY allows a trapping season for about 10,300 licensed trappers. NY also offers a special license for a very small number of people to train bear hunting dogs; 40 people have one year licenses and 90 people have five year licenses for a total of 130 bear dog training licenses. NY also issues falconry permits, and there are 250 falconers in NY.
http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/is-lack-of-interest-credible.html
Ohio, Rhode Island, Ontario, and Pennsylvania:
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa:
The last three states to legalize dove hunting (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa) have between 6,900 and 9,200 dove hunters:
Iowa re-instated dove hunting in 2011. That year, non-resident license sales increased 18%. In 2012, participation in dove hunting increased 6.2% from 2011.
Wisconsin, which re-instated a mourning dove season in 2003 predicted no increase in the number of hunting licenses sold. However, sales of resident and non-resident small game licenses did increase that year. See graph below.
- Wisconsin 7,500 (re-instated dove hunting 2003)
- Minnesota 6,900 (re-instated dove hunting 2004)
- Iowa 9,200 (re-instated dove hunting 2011)
Iowa re-instated dove hunting in 2011. That year, non-resident license sales increased 18%. In 2012, participation in dove hunting increased 6.2% from 2011.
Wisconsin, which re-instated a mourning dove season in 2003 predicted no increase in the number of hunting licenses sold. However, sales of resident and non-resident small game licenses did increase that year. See graph below.
The state of Minnesota re-instated a mourning dove season in 2004, which resulted in an increase in small game license sales. See below.
Michigan, like every other state, has experienced a long-term decrease in the sales of hunting licenses. Michigan re-instated its mourning dove hunting season in 2004. Michigan did not see an increase in small game license sales during the first year it reinstated a dove hunting season. However, 4,981 dove stamps were sold that year.
It should be noted that in 2004 dove hunting was only allowed in 6 of Michigan’s 83 counties. All 6 counties were clustered in the southern part of the state.
It should be noted that in 2004 dove hunting was only allowed in 6 of Michigan’s 83 counties. All 6 counties were clustered in the southern part of the state.
According to the 2004 Mourning Dove Hunting Survey published by the Michigan DNR in February 2005, 4,981 hunters obtained a dove stamp for the 2004 mourning dove season in Michigan. The DNR said that about 69 percent of the active hunters rated their hunting experience as either "very good" or "good." According to the DNR, an estimated 23 percent of adult dove hunters took a youth hunting with them during the Michigan season.
Addendum 1. Dove Hunting Participation by State, Ascending Order
Purpose: We stress, this activity should be compared with the dove hunter numbers in other states and with things like trapping, bear dog training, and falconry in NY, and NOT deer hunting.
Among the 41 states that allow dove hunting, dove hunter numbers range from a low of 100 to a high of 276,800.
Note: The state of Hawaii does hunt mourning doves; however, we have no data on hunter numbers.
There are nine U.S. states that do not hunt mourning doves: Michigan, NY, NJ, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, NH, Maine, and Alaska. Note: Mourning doves only occur in Alaska as an accidental species.
Among the 41 states that allow dove hunting, dove hunter numbers range from a low of 100 to a high of 276,800.
Note: The state of Hawaii does hunt mourning doves; however, we have no data on hunter numbers.
There are nine U.S. states that do not hunt mourning doves: Michigan, NY, NJ, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, NH, Maine, and Alaska. Note: Mourning doves only occur in Alaska as an accidental species.
State |
Number of Active Dove Hunters in 2014 |
Rhode Island |
100 |
West Virginia |
500 |
Delaware |
1,100 |
Montana |
1,400 |
Wyoming |
1,500 |
Nevada |
2,700 |
Washington |
3,400 |
Oregon |
3,600 |
North Dakota |
3,900 |
Utah |
5,800 |
Maryland |
6,000 |
South Dakota |
6,400 |
Minnesota |
6,900 |
Indiana |
7,300 |
Wisconsin |
7,500 |
New Mexico |
7,600 |
Iowa |
9,200 |
Florida |
9,300 |
Nebraska |
9,700 |
Idaho |
9,900 |
Ohio |
12,000 |
Mississippi |
13,800 |
Kentucky |
14,200 |
Colorado |
14,400 |
Louisiana |
15,200 |
Virginia |
15,600 |
Oklahoma |
19,100 |
Pennsylvania |
19,700 |
Arkansas |
19,900 |
Illinois |
20,200 |
Missouri |
24,100 |
Arizona |
24,200 |
Kansas |
26,200 |
Tennessee |
27,600 |
South Carolina |
30,000 |
Alabama |
30,600 |
Georgia |
39,700 |
North Carolina |
39,800 |
California |
52,600 |
Texas |
276,800 |
Hawaii |
No Data |
Puerto Rico |
No Data |
British Columbia |
No Data |
Ontario |
15,000 (estimate) |